China imposes new control measures on online video content

Under the new guidelines of content control on the internet, presenters of online video shows in China will now have to register with their real names starting from January.

The presenters will have to identify themselves to online operators through interviews or video calls.

The rules also mandate operators to obtain a permit from the ministry before offering channels to presenters from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR, Taiwan and foreign countries, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

All the shows must be recorded and the operators will have to carry out real-time supervision of all the performances.

If the operator detects any content that violates the laws or regulations, they will suspend services and report the matter to the concerned authorities.

The new regulations come after a recent report stated a boom in the video business. 

As of June, the number of streaming service users reached 514 million, accounting for 72.4 per cent of China's Internet population, according to the 2016 China Online Streaming Development Study Report, released by China Netcasting Services Association (CNSA).

The 2016 report also found that the chief form of entertainment in the country is online video followed by online gaming and reading literature.

China's online video market was valued at 24.3 billion yuan (USD 3.5 billion) in 2015, according to independent data company analysts.

(With inputs from PTI)